Image reading apparatus and control method thereof

Abstract

An image reading apparatus capable of continually conveying a plurality of originals in a stable manner while cleaning a contact glass of an image sensor and reducing streaks occurring in read images. An image sensor reads an original image via a contact member which the conveyed original may contact. A cleaning member, being provided on a turning member which is able to rotate or swing and disposed at a position opposing the image sensor, cleans the contact member's surface which the original may contact. The turning member is turned by a driving unit. A controlling unit controls the driving unit to turn the turning member so that cleaning of the contact member is performed by the cleaning member after the original has passed an image reading position of the image sensor and before a subsequent original reaches the image reading position.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus such as a scanner which reads an image on an original conveyed using a conveying mechanism such as a roller, and a control method of the image reading apparatus.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]An example of a conventional image reading apparatus is shown in FIG. 30.[0005]The image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 30 includes a lower unit 301 and an upper unit 302 supported so as to be vertically turnable via a hinge 313 with respect to the lower unit 301. A turning movement of the upper unit 302 causes an original conveying section to open and / or close. An opened state and / or a closed state of the original conveying section is detected by an opening-closing detection sensor 337. A convey path is formed when the original conveying section assumes a closed state to enable conveying of an original.[0006]The image reading apparatus starts an image readi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023]The present invention provides an image reading apparatus and a control method thereof capable of continually conveying a plurality of originals in a stable manner while cleaning a contact glass of an image sensor and reducing streaks occurring in read images.

[0024]The present invention further provides an image reading apparatus and a control method thereof capable of readily removing stains adhering to and accumulated on a cleaning member.

[0025]The present invention yet further provides an image reading apparatus and a control method thereof capable of preventing damages to an original, paper jams or the like and, at the same time, suppressing or preventing a reduction in the number of read sheets per unit time.

[0037]According to the present invention, it is possible to continually convey a plurality of originals in a stable manner while reducing streaks occurring in read images since a contact glass of an image sensor can be cleaned by a cleaning member mounted on a rotating member.

[0038]In addition, according to the present invention, stains adhering to and accumulated on a cleaning member can be readily removed since the cleaning member is stopped in a state where the cleaning member is exposed to an original conveying section when an opened state of the original conveying section is detected.

[0039]Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is now possible to prevent damages to an original, paper jams or the like and, at the same time, suppress or prevent a reduction in the number of reads per unit time.

Problems solved by technology

Therefore, when the platen roller continues to rotate during the conveying of an original, there are cases where the front end of the original catches on the elastic member.

In addition, there may be cases where the elastic member is inadvertently captured in a read image or where variations in density or defocusing occurs due to rippling caused when the elastic member presses a part of the original against a contact glass of the image sensor.

However, if contaminants such as paper dust adhere to the contact glass during continuous conveying of a plurality of originals, streaks will occur on the read image read by the image sensor.

In addition, if the contaminants remain adhered, streaks will continue to occur even in read images read after the aforementioned original.

Therefore, cleaning of deposition of stains adhering on the cleaning member 316 requires disassembling the mechanism around the platen roller 310 and cleaning the cleaning member 316 after removing the platen roller 310 from the apparatus main body, raising a problem in that cleanup work of the cleaning member 316 requires a significant amount of effort.

Furthermore, with the conventional image reading apparatus described above, in the case where a skew of the original 308 occurs, a corner of the original 308 is delayed by the skew, whereby cleaning performed at predetermined timing may cause damages to the original 308 or jamming.

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